Kenneth Elstein, Belchertown's new chairman of selectmen, thinks more town work could be accomplished if it were less time consuming

BELCHERTOWN – When it comes to town government, Selectman Kenneth E. Elstein thinks that less time spent can result in more interest on the part of potential volunteers and more accessibility to the public.

Elstein took over as chairman of the Board of Selectmen when it reorganized after the May 16 election, and he has already tried two simple things that he felt shortened the board’s June 13 meeting in a way that did not limit debate.

When it was time to reappoint dozens of current members to town boards and committees, Elstein got his fellow selectmen to agree to dispense with the reading of each name and vote on all the reappointments as a block.

Since none of the other four selectmen had objections to any of these reappointments, it was done with one vote as Elstein suggested.

Another item on the June 13 agenda was a vote on granting a 1-percent pay raise to police officers, something that had been done already for other employees, including those in the School Department.

This issue could have been discussed in executive session because it involves union negotiations, but Elstein said that because it has been discussed often by the selectmen over the past few months, it could simply be put up for a vote June 13.

The board quickly voted unanimously to approve the police pay raises.

Elstein said it is good to reduce the amount of time spent at board meetings and at sessions of Town Meeting as long as it is done in a way that does not deny anyone the opportunity to participate in debate on town issues.

Allowing a full debate is something Elstein said should not be compromised in a move toward shorter meetings.

“Not only do people have a right to speak, I think the collective wisdom, more often than not, is helpful,” he said. “You don’t want to cut anyone off.”

But he also feels that shorter board meetings and Town Meetings would encourage participation, increase the number of people who watch meetings on public access television, and increase attendance at Town Meetings.

“The biggest weakness is the lack of participation,” Elstein said.

For years the Board of Selectmen met every week except in two summer months when there were just two meetings a month, but for nearly a year the board has only met on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

Elstein said that system has worked well and is in line with his thinking about less time resulting in more accessibility. The board can always schedule a special meeting within a few days if a need arises, he said.

“People have such busy lives, and I want people to be able to participate in government. Anything we can do to enhance that and make it easier for people to participate is good,” Elstein said. “There are things that the selectmen and the town moderator can do to speed things up.”